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Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Goalkeeper of the Year award after standing out during his country's historic World Cup debut.
The 40-year-old helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stage in the team's first appearance at the tournament, putting together a series of high-profile performances that placed him among the 10 nominees for the award.
Vozinha made one of his strongest statements in Cape Verde's opening match against Spain, stopping seven shots as the African side held the eventual champions to a goalless draw despite Spain controlling 74% of possession.
The result also made Cape Verde the first African team to keep a clean sheet against the eventual World Cup champions in a match at the tournament.
Vozinha later stepped up again in the knockout stage against Argentina, making eight saves, including one from a close-range Lionel Messi effort.
Cape Verde eventually went out after a 3-2 extra-time defeat, but Vozinha ended the tournament with 18 saves across four appearances.
Only two goalkeepers aged 40 or older have recorded more saves at a single World Cup: Italy's Dino Zoff, with 27 in 1982, and England's Peter Shilton, with 28 in 1990.
Following the tournament, Vozinha moved to Chilean club Colo-Colo, while his profile also grew sharply on social media, where he has since built up more than 29 million Instagram followers.
His Ballon d'Or nomination comes as several major names were left off the shortlist, including reigning goalkeeper award winner Gianluigi Donnarumma and Liverpool's Alisson Becker.
France's Mike Maignan and England's Jordan Pickford, both World Cup starters for their national teams, were also not included.
Vozinha is joined on the shortlist by Morocco's Yassine Bounou, Belgium's Thibaut Courtois, Spain's Joan Garcia, Argentina's Emiliano Martinez, Switzerland's Gregor Kobel, Senegal's Edouard Mendy, Spain's David Raya and Unai Simon, and Russia's Matvey Safonov.
The winner of the Men's Goalkeeper of the Year award will be announced during the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
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